Six players with past Lexington Legends experience and a host of talented newcomers will embark on the 2011 season when the Legends take the field for the first time in 2011 tomorrow night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. It's a group that manager Rodney Linares is very confident about.
"We're working hard this year to get you guys what you guys want which is a championship this year," said Linares. "We came close last year but I think this year we have a great group of kids, a great coaching staff and what else, we have the orchard to play in."
Returning Legends include:
- Roberto Pena, catcher
- Jiovanni Mier, shortstop
- Tanner Bushue, pitcher
- Brad Dydalewicz, pitcher
- Juan Minaya, pitcher
- Jorge De Leon, pitcher
Of the familiar faces, Mier saw the most action in the field during 2010, playing in 131 games while hitting .235 with 15 stolen bases. Minaya, who stared 26 games, is back to work on his control. While he allowed only 111 hits in 127.2 innings, his 73 free passes contributed to his 4-12 record and 4.79 era.
De Leon, who was the Legends shortstop in 2009, returns as the teams closer. He appeared in 23 games for Tri-City a year ago with six saves and a miniscule 0.64 era.
A pair of 2010 first-year player draft first round selections of the Houston Astros will don the Legends blue and green. Delino DeShields Jr. (eighth pick overall) is expected to patrol center field and wreak havoc atop the Legends lineup. Michael Foltynewicz (19th pick overall) will get the opening night start on the bump as he embarks on his first full season of professional baseball.
Linares expects plenty of pop from this group of Legends, led by his cleanup hitter Telvin Nash. The 20-year-old outfielder mashed 12 home runs in just 57 games for Greeneville of the Appalachian League (rookie) in 2010.
The second-year manager is full of optimism: "I told you last year we were going to win and we came close," said Linares. "Guaranteed win this year!"
For the full roster, click here.
Roster tidbits:
- Oldest player: Ben Orloff - turns 24 on April 26
- Youngest player: Delino DeShields Jr. - turns 19 on August 16
- On Astros 40-man Roster: Jorge De Leon
- Tallest players: Ruben Alaniz, Tanner Bushue, Michael Foltynewicz, Juan Minaya and Brian Streilein - all 6-4 and all pitchers
- Shortest player: DeShields Jr. - 5-9
- Switch-hitter: Roberto Pena
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